Ekurhuleni taxi associations commit to a peaceful public transport operation
An agreement between the associations regarding the route has been reached.
The Greater Germiston Taxi Association and the Zonkizizwe Taxi Association have signed a landmark agreement committing to ending ongoing tensionin the operation of minibus taxis in Ekurhuleni following months of unrest.
The two associations operating the route between Germiston and Zonkizizwe have agreed to operate on a 50/50 basis and to end the violence that has plagued the area over the past few months.
The two organisations’ disagreement stems from the sharing of the route, with each accusing the other of picking up passengers in areas where their operating licences do not allow, and, thus encroaching on each other’s routes.
MEC for Public Transport and Roads Infrastructure Jacob Mamabolo has been mediating between the associations over the past two months and finally brokered the peace pact in Johannesburg on Wednesday.
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“I sincerely thank the two associations and the leadership of both their mother bodies, the Gauteng National Taxi Alliance (GNTA) and the South African National Taxi Council (Santaco), for helping us in facilitating a conversation among the two associations.
“We have avoided a lot of bloodshed with the signing of this agreement,” said Mamabolo.
He also thanked the two associations for not engaging in violence during the period of negotiations.
“Their leadership shows that the taxi industry can resolve most of its problems by sitting around the table and talking.
“Violence is never the answer,” added Mamabolo.
In the agreement, the parties committed to cease hostilities and establish a joint monitoring team to evaluate and intervene swiftly in ensuring the agreement is implemented.
The parties will report disputes that arise to the Santaco and GNTA provincial leadership and only escalate issues to the MEC as a last resort.
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